The Effect of the Duration of Basic Life Support Training on the Learners’ Cardiopulmonary and Automated External Defibrillator Skills

Abstract

Background. Basic life support (BLS) training with hands-on practice can improve performance during simulated cardiac arrest, although the optimal duration for BLS training is unknown. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of various BLS training durations for acquiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) skills. Methods. We randomised 485 South Korean nonmedical college students into four levels of BLS training: level 1 (40 min), level 2 (80 min), level 3 (120 min), and level 4 (180 min). Before and after each level, the participants completed questionnaires regarding their willingness to perform CPR and use AEDs, and their psychomotor skills for CPR and AED use were assessed using a manikin with Skill-Reporter™ software. Results. There were no significant differences between levels 1 and 2, although levels 3 and 4 exhibited significant differences in the proportion of overall adequate chest compressions (p < 0.001) and average chest compression depth (p = 0.003). All levels exhibited a greater posttest willingness to perform CPR and use AEDs (all, p < 0.001). Conclusions. Brief BLS training provided a moderate level of skill for performing CPR and using AEDs. However, high-quality skills for CPR required longer and hands-on training, particularly hands-on training with AEDs.

Human factors influencing out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest survival

“…This accords with previous research on community response teams . Confidence and duration of training also lead to an increased likelihood of a willingness to use an AED when required …”

“…in a systematic review of available studies found many of the same barriers and facilitators to early access to defibrillation as this original research . Another study found a direct link between confidence and duration of training leading to increased likelihood of a willingness to use an AED when required . Kitamura et al .…”

Retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills after hands-only training versus conventional training in novices: a randomized controlled trial

“…Several studies have reported that relatively short durations of handsonly CPR training are effective in the acquisition and retention of CPR skills [8,17]. In contrast, other studies have reported that longer durations of hands-on practice improve the acquisition of CPR skills after training [18,19]. Our results suggest that, although hands-only CPR may be easier to learn and perform than conventional CPR, it is difficult for lay rescuers to maintain their CPR skills over time.…”

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) psychomotor skills of laypeople, as affected by training interventions, number of times trained and retention testing intervals: A dataset derived from a systematic review

“…This dataset (available in the accompanying Supplementary Excel Spreadsheet file) summarises, in 28 tables, the psychomotor skill data extracted from 31 primary peer-reviewed articles that met the inclusion criteria for the related systematic review [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23], [24], [25], [26], [27], [28], [29], [30], [31], [32]. The psychomotor skills for which data were extracted and reported were: compression rate, compression depth, duration of interruptions to compressions, chest recoil, hand placement, proportion of adequate or ’correct’ compressions, ventilation volume, compression-to-ventilation ratio, duty cycle and overall skills.…”